Pilgrims climbing Croagh Patrick are to face charges for parking in time for this year’s Reek Sunday ceremony. Mayo County Council has announced that a 'Pay and Display' system is to be introduced at the Reek’s car park, with visitors paying €1 for the first hour and fifty cent an hour thereafter.
The Council said that income from the charges is to cover the recent €150,000 redevelopment of the car park and to pay for further maintenance work.
The charge has been approved by the Westport Area Committee and will be put to council members this month.
Cllr Margaret Adams said that "people living in the real world know that costs happen" and added that other tourist attractions charge for parking.
"Someone has to pay the costs, it'll either be the tax payer or people who use the facility," she said.
"The hourly rate is reasonable and tourists especially are accustomed to paying charges at tourist sites".
Her colleague Cllr John O'Malley said the charge was necessary because the car park facility was abused by all-day parking and the establishment of impromptu campsites.
Westport Town Manager, Martin Keating, said that the Murrisk Development Association, which maintains both Croagh Patrick and the nearby Famine Memorial on a voluntary basis, is supporting the new charge and is to receive a share of the revenue from it.
But Westport town councillor Keith Martin criticised the move, saying the introduction of the charge during a recession was "backward and short sighted".
"The council spends millions improving roadways but does not turn them into toll roads to re-coup costs,” he said.
But Johnny Groden of Murrisk Development said the charge was not for climbing the Reek but solely for use of the car park.
SIC: CIN